Research Paper on "Self-Concept Maintenance: Analysis of Self-Regulation, Social Comparison"

Research Paper 4 pages (1121 words) Sources: 4 Style: APA

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Self-Concept Maintenance: Analysis of Self-Regulation, Social Comparison, and Social Identity Theories

Humans as social animals assume different social roles and present various self-images that represent one facet of their personalities appropriate or necessary to the social situation. One's perception of the 'self' is fluid and could be different when one is alone by himself/herself, as compared to when one is in a group or public place. The private and public selves of the individual are ways in which one's self-concept is developed. In the study of human behavior, self-concept maintenance is necessary to "survive" socially: the kind of self-concept developed by the individual would depend on his/her socio-historical background, which include self-concept responses to specific social situations that have been proven favorable or agreeable to him/her at the time.

Thus, in this context of self-concept maintenance, this paper will discuss three (3) relevant and critical theories that will help further explain the nature of self-concept maintenance: self-regulation, social comparison, and social identity theories. These theories help describe the process of self-concept development, including a determination of the motivation that encourages individuals to develop a specific self-concept or image, especially when in public or in a specific social environment. In addition to a comparison of these theories, an application will also be discussed through the media program called "Virtual Office." In this application discussion, two female personalities are compared with each other with regards to their self-concept. Further, having discussed the theories of self-concept maintenance, the discussion would include an analysis of each female character's motivation or possible development of her self-concept based on the principles of each theory.

The theory of self-regulation is a self-concept maintenance theory that explains and describes the internal processes an individual goes through during the self-conceptualization stage. One's decision to assume a specific kind of image socially is a series of processes that are both dependent on the person's personal development and the response of his/her social environment to this/these personalities. Self-regulation posits that generally, individuals "control" their natural behavior. People develop self-concepts that are ultimately favorable to other people, and individuals exercise self-control in order to ensure that a desired self-concept or image is socially and consistently maintained. Success in "controlling" one's behavior would lead to "renewed efforts" for greater self-regulation, while lack of confidence or "doubt" in maintaining the image/public self "leads to a tendency to disengage" (Carver, 2001:322).

There are occasions, of course, when one experiences "lapses in self-control." Specific examples cited include binge eating, when a person's resolve to control his/her eating highly conflicts with his/her desire to eat. In this case, self-regulation succeeds when one is able to 'override' this desire to "overindulge." However, there are cases when lapses in self-control really happen, and this lapse is usually coupled with "mental fatigue" and "total exhaustion." Unfortunately, as confidence spirals down, so does self-control and the motivation to control and maintain his/her self-concept, and the downward spiral worsens, leading to the development of an entirely new personality -- a personality that might be considered socially unacceptable or deviant (323-4).

Social comparison theory draws from three (3) important axioms, describing why and how social comparison contributes to the development and maintenance of one's self-concept. These axioms are stated as follows (Kaminka, 2007:2):

(i) When lacking objective means for evaluation, agents compare their state to that of others;

(ii) Comparison increases… READ MORE

How to Reference "Self-Concept Maintenance: Analysis of Self-Regulation, Social Comparison" Research Paper in a Bibliography

Related Research Papers:

Comparison of Three Models of Psychotherapy Thesis

Psychotherapy

Social Work According to Three Models of Psychotherapy:

Cognitive Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Behavior Therapy

Clinical psychology is a field constructed on the intent to treat disorders and… read more

Thesis 10 pages (2935 words) Sources: 6 Style: APA Topic: Psychology / Behavior / Psychiatry

---

Comparison of School Code and APA Research Proposal

ethical codes or programs: 1) Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct (2002) and 2) General Education Program at Saint Leo University. We will compare the two codes by… read more

Research Proposal 9 pages (2508 words) Sources: 10 Style: MLA Topic: Education / Teaching / Learning

---

Case Analysis Cornwall County School District Research Paper

Cornwall County School System

Narrative Summary of the Case

Cornwall County School District is in trouble. Their schools are in desperate need of proper maintenance. The following case analysis presents… read more

Research Paper 28 pages (9410 words) Sources: 10 Style: APA Topic: Education / Teaching / Learning

---

New Trucking Hours of Service Rule Research Paper

new trucking hours of service rule will take effect in the United States that will have important implications for over-the-road trucking companies and their professional drivers. To gain some fresh… read more

Research Paper 20 pages (6880 words) Sources: 1+ Topic: Transportation / Mass Transit

---

Current Event Analysis -- Apple's Product Innovation Term Paper

Current Event Analysis -- Apple's Product Innovation Leads to Profitability

Apple Inc. (AAPL) is one of the most financially successful high technology companies globally today due to their exceptional management… read more

Term Paper 2 pages (556 words) Sources: 2 Topic: Computers / IT / Internet

---

View 100+ more related papers  >>